Dos and Don’ts on Your First Day of Work

Congratulations on acing that interview and earning that new position! The first day of work can be a little overwhelming, especially when the excitement and anxiousness meet. But take a deep breath! You can easily breeze through your first day by following these simple dos and don’ts on your first day!
Whether it’s the first job or a new position, we’re bound to have a few slip-ups. But we’re keeping it cool with 8 essential dos and don’ts to help you nail that first day with a good impression!

DO

Be punctual
The first impression starts with your first footstep in the office. And that means your employers are looking at the time! Being early on your first day will tell your boss a lot more than you might think. So, rest early the night before to prepare yourself for an early start. Allow yourself at least 1o to 15 minutes to arrive before your scheduled work time.

Dress smart
As part of your first impression, remember to start your new job with smart and fresh. Tuck your blouse in neatly and make sure the hemline of your dress or skirt is modest. Wear the right colours, too! Colours can also exude your vibes, so opt for cool-tones like blue, green, brown or even sweet colors like pastels. If you’d like to add some color, focus on the accessories. For a little inspiration, take cue from Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada.

Keep your make-up minimal with just a slight natural tint on the cheeks, mascara and mauve lipstick. Wear your hair up you have stubborn curls like a low pony-tail or a simple chignon. Also avoid wearing heels that are too high or too strappy.

Be friendly and socialise
You shouldn’t only be making a good impression on your boss in your workplace, but your colleagues too! Start getting to know your colleagues, and even the tea-lady or cleaners. Being pleasant to everyone in your workplace will one day benefit you.Be polite and make small-talk; ask questions about them but don’t get too personal!
When your colleagues ask you to join them for lunch or tea-break, say yes! They’re making the effort to get to know you on your first day, and you should do the same too. A little time out of the office can help relieve some office-stress among your colleagues, which makes it a more comfortable environment for getting to know each other.

Be inquisitive
Your first day can be a overwhelming. A lot of things are going on, and you can’t know every detail about what you’re supposed to do, how you should be doing it, etc. If the is someone assigned to show you around the office, really take the advantage to make those enquiries if he/she says “Any questions”?

DON’T

Gossip
The last thing you want is to show how catty you are on your first day. Keep calm and reserved, and avoid saying anything about anyone, even when they ask you for your opinion. Also refrain from looking for a new clique to join. It can spell bad news.

Complain about your old job or employers
Apart from coming-off as childish or immature, making harsh remarks about your old employer is never a good thing. You never know who in the office knows your employer or how that person could be affiliated to your old company. Unless if are being grilled for an answer as to why you left your previous job, simply answer “I left because I was looking for something more in-line with my interests”.

Ask to leave early
Asking to leave early or walking out the door at 6pm sharp is just as bad as arriving late on your first day. Your job is your priority now, so if you have any plans at 6.30pm, it would be wise to delay that a little. If it’s an emergency, remember to inform a superior before hand.

Surf Facebook on your office computer
Your first day is a day when you’ll need to learn instead of ‘liking’ what your friend just posted up on Facebook. Anything networking that isn’t related to work should be kept away during your office hours.